Bearing or carrier mounting



March 24, 1931. J. swlNscoE ET AL BEARING OR CARRIER MOUNTING Filed Nov. 7, 1927 Patented Mar. 24, 1931 I UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE JOHN swINscoE, or DAYTON, ,omo7 AND HARRY A. .ToHNsON AND CHARLES EARL WATSON, OE sYRAoUsE, NEW YORK, .AssreNoRs To 'GENERAL MOTORS CORPORA- TION, OE DETROIT, MICHIGAN, A OORPORATTON OE DELAWARE BEARING OR CARRIER MOUNTING Application filed. November 7, 1927. Serial No. 231,722.y

This invention relates to an arrangement for securing a bearing or carrier in a supporting sleeve ,and is particularly designed for securing the differential pinion carrier, common in automobile construction, within the tubular extensionl of the rear axle housing provided for the purpose. I-Ieretofore, it has been customary to clamp the carrier in the tubular extension by splitting the outer end of the extension and-clamping the splitportion about the carrier. With this arrangement, it has been found that when the clamping bolt is drawn up the tubular extension is distorted more or less out'of round with the result that the clamping action is not effective throughout the entire circumference of the carrier, and there is possibility ofthe pinion shaft being forced slightly out of line.

Our invention consists in clamping the carrier in place by contracting the tubular support about the carrier but differs from prior practices in that the housing is not slotted, but the metal itself is compressed to give the der sired contraction. This may be done in a o number of ways but the preferred method consists in forming lugs upon the tubular eX- tension and connecting the lugs by a tension member such as an ordinary bolt. Then the bolt is drawn up, the metal between the lugs 0 is compressed while the remaining ,circum-Y ference of the housing is subjected to tension with the result that the tubular support is contracted the desired amount and caused to grip the carrier. The section of the metal of the housing between the lugs may be lighter thanl that of the rest of the housing so as to permit more effective compression and coni sequently better gripping action. Our design may likewise embody a feature shown in lthe prior application of Donald D. Ormsby and John Swinscoe, Serial No. 231,618 filed November 7 1927, in that the carrier may be a sliding fit in the tubular support and may be provided with a spiral groove to receive a portion of the bolt so that upon rotation of the carrier it is caused to move axially to eect adjustment of the engagement between the pinion and ring gear of the differential,

However, if preferred, the carrier may sim-Ky ply be threaded into the tubular extension as in presentpractices.

InVV the drawings, Figure 1 isa longitudinal section Vshowing my method of mounting the carrier in the housing extension. Figure 2 is a View on line 2 2 of Figure 1. Figure 3 is a bottom plan view of Figurev 1. `Figure4 is a view similar to Figure l but showing a slight modification. Figure 5 is a view on line 5-5 of Figure 4. The reference character 6 indicates `the shaft carrying the usualv pinion for meshing with the ring gear in conventional differential construction. 8 indicates a tubular support extending forwardly from the rear axle and housing the shaft 6. 10 indicates the carrier for the shaft 6. Antifriction bearing 12 isv secured in a socket formed in the carrierby means of split ring 14 snapped into groove 16 provided in the carrier. In the outer end off the carrier al groove is provided to receive packing 2O to 'prevent the escape of oil. The outer end of the carrier is providedwith notches 22 to permit application of a wrench for adjusting the carrier. The tubularextension 8 isy provided withspaced lugs 24 connected by arched portion 26.` Bolt 28 passes through apertures provided in the lugs and carries at one end the nut 30. In the form shown` inFigures 1 to 3 the carrier 10Vis-in the form of a cylinder and is provided with a spiral groove 31 into which an intermediate portion of the bolt 28 pro jects, as best shown in Figure 1.

With the parts vassembled as sho-wn in Figure 1, rotation of the carrier 10 willaifect aX- ial adjustment thereof, and consequently of j the shaft and pinion, because of the engagement of the bolt 28 in the groove 31. When the desired adjustment has been made, tightening of the nutl 30will contract the tulo'u-l lar support 8 about the carrier and lock it in position. This contraction isproduced by compression of the metal ofthe support between the lugs 24 and the subjection of the remainderof the circumference of the support to tension asa result of the sameclamping action. This, we have found to be a very eective means' for j securing the carrier in place. j They Varched Vportion 2,6 braces the lugs kandY prevents vtheir collapse,` In theV form shown in Figures 1 to 3, the section of the metal between the lugs 24 is somewhat weakened by the metal removed to permit passage of the bo-lt 28. However, if desired, the metal 4between the lugs may be made vof lighter section throughout; This is illustrated in Figures l and 5 where the portion of the tubular extension 8 extending between thel'ugs x2li reduced in thickness as shown at 36.' In this form Iikewise thecarre 1o is merely threaded in the housing extension as shown at 38 in the conventionalwway and the bolt 28 extends clear of the support be'- tween the lugs. Y

In either ofthe described forms, tightening of f the'` drawbolt does not distort the housing out of round, but merely subjects' it to substantially uniformed contraction which causes it to iirnly grip the' carrier and lock it in place with the advantages pointed out.

We claim 1 l'. The comb'inationof a tubular support, a cylindrical bearing member mounted in the support, 'cii'cumf'reitially spaced abutments on the support, archcoiiiiecting said ab'ut- I'I'lents'; the wall of-said bearing member between s'aid ab'utnients being of reduced thickness, and means yfor drawing the abutments together to Compress the metal therebetween and cause the bearing member to grip the support.

l2. In the combination as defined in claim l, said means cin'p'ris'ing a draw bolt connecting said abutments.

3; eoinbination of a tubular support, a cylindrical bearing member mounted in the support, spaced abutinerits on the support, an arch connecting said abutments, a drawbolt connecting said abiitients for drawing the lattertogether to cause the support to the bearing member, said last-named Vmeans cooperating with said member to cause the latter to'i'iiove axiallyvwlien rotated.

V4. In the combination of a tubular support havingthe yfo'rmof awcoinpleteannulus in cross Vs'ectinna Vcylindrical carrier slidably mounted in the support, and a tension member associatedwith the tubular support for eoiitracting Athe support about thebearing niembjertovcause it to grip the latter and hold it in position, bearing member being provided with aspirasot for .receiving a prtijon of ythe yterisionwmemb'er whereby rotation of the bearing member affects axial adjustmm: aerea@ t y 5. The co'Inbinatior'iy of a ltubular support, a; cylindricalcarrier slidable in the support, saidsupport being provided with spaced lugs, an arched portion connecting said lugs, 'a tension member rconnfectingr said lugs and ai'- ,rangedvto 'compress the metal therebetween temes@ the Support t. .erpth bearing member, ,Said beaune member, b'emg formed to cti-operate with saidft'ension member toV cause axial motion thereof upon rotation;

6. In the combination as defined in claim 5, said bearing member being provided with a spiral slot in which the tension member is received to aect said adjustment.

y 7. In the combination as deined in claim 5', and a gear carrying shaft mun'ted in said carrier.

YS. The combination of a tubularsupport, a bearing member mountedrin' the5 support,A circumferentially spaced abutments' on the support, the wall of Vthe support between said abutments being of reduced thickness, and means' for drawing the abutments together to compress the metal between them and cause the support to grip the bearing member.

V9. Acombination of a support in the form ofa tube of continuous circular cross section, a bearing member fitted in the support, circumferentially spaced abutments fixed on the exterior of the support, and tension means connecting said abutments and adaptedto be drawn upto shift the abutments toward each other compressing the metal of the support between the abutments and` in engagement with the member and causing the support to grip the bearing member, Y,

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

`JOI-IN SW'INSOOE. In testimony whereof I aiiix4 my signature.

. HARRY A. JOHNSON. In testimony whereof .Iaiix my signature.

CHARLES EARL WATSON.

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